Los Angeles, CA -- Chinese music is peeking through the American pop charts -- thanks to a group of musicians called the Twelve Girls Band.

The band is made up of 13 female musicians who use traditional Chinese musical instruments to play a repertoire that includes some of their favorite folk songs as well as Asian-influenced versions of songs like "Clocks" by Coldplay and Enya's "Only Time."

The Twelve Girls Band -- which has 13 members in case one gets too sick to perform -- has just released its first U.S. release, "Eastern Energy," and it debuted in the top 60 of the album charts despite having very little airplay.

That's the highest debut for an Asian artist, a feat which gratifies record executive Ken Pedersen, who signed the girls to New River Music.

He expected the group to be popular with Asian-Americans, but notes that during the group's recent U.S. tour, audiences were up to 95 percent caucasian in some cities, which bodes well for the group's crossover appeal.

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